Hello Tom I started doing precisely what you suggest bellow. What I found was kind of unexpected. They are still quite pricy in Brazil. A brand new, digital, German-made Theodolite would cost around US$ 3,000.00 while an old piece would still cost around US$ 2,000.00 (about 30% less now after the real devaluation against the American dollar)
I expect to find less expensive theodolites in other countries. As to government agencies, you can't imagine how difficult it is to buy anything from them. They have to sell through public auction. Stuff get rotten before they decide to sell. And even when they do, it takes so long the rotten remains become completely useless. Sometimes you may be lockier than that, but this is quite uncommon. - fernando Tom McHugh wrote: > Hello, Fernando, > > I would think that the best sources for old surveying instruments would > be small, privately owned engineering companies which have been in > business for the last 30 to 50 years. They may still have some of the > older instruments from the days before they switched over to digital > versions. Also you might try municipal engineering departments, or other > public/government agencies involved in such areas as road/railroad > building, mining, municipal water supply, bridge building and airport > construction. > > Check with older local surveyors, or with companies which have done land > surveying. They may be able to provide you with addresses of retired > surveyors who might still have their old instruments. Ship building > companies might still have some old theodolites lying around. > > You might also try various departments in your national government which > were involved in coast & geodetic survey work, mapping and dam building. > As well, contact the departments of Geology & Engineering (surveying) at > various local universities. > > In short, any kind of a governmental agency, private company or > individual involved in any form of civil engineering before the mid > 1960's would have used beautiful, finely made non-digital surveying > instruments. Since these were expensive then, it is very likely they > would have been kept (in storage) even after the company changed over to > more precise (and far cheaper) digital instruments. In a country as > large as yours, there should be thousands of them waiting to be > discovered. > > Good hunting, > > Tom McHugh > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > R. R. 1, Box 896 > Fort Fairfield, ME 04742 > U. S. A. > > 46° 45' 13" > 67° 48' 42" > > Fernando wrote: > > > I'd like to buy a second-hand, traditional (non digital) theodolite. > > Although it's just for the > > fun of it, not for any practical use, I'd like to have a piece that is > > in good working > > conditions. > > > > Can anybody there give some hints on where I may find this kind of > > stuff? > > > > Thank you. > > > > - fernando -- Fernando Cabral Padrao iX Sistemas Abertos mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.pix.com.br mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Fone: +55 61 321-2433 Fax: +55 61 225-3082 15º 45' 04.9" S 47º 49' 58.6" W 19º 37' 57.0" S 45º 17' 13.6" W
